Welcome
to Christ the King Episcopal Church. I want to personally
thank you for visiting our website and invite you to become
an intimate part of the mission and ministry of this unique
parish. Should you have any questions about Christ the
King in particular or the Episcopal Church in general
please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to
meeting you at one of our celebrations of the Holy Eucharist
or, perhaps in a less formal way, at your convenience.
May
God bless you,
Father Frank Cooper
Church
Staff
If you have a general inquiry or concern you may send
an email to: Find
the Answer ;or contact any of the members
below.
It is the policy of Christ the King that Weddings are not performed for non-members of this parish. This is due to the unusually high demand for destination weddings in Santa Rosa Beach and the fact that our staff can not adequately provide for these services. Also, the Episcopal Church requires Pre-Marital Counseling for all persons seeking Holy Matrimony and this is difficult to do long distance when one considers the time involved.
Christ the King Episcopal Church actually
began in 1985 as the South Walton Bible Fellowship,
a south Walton group of Episcopalians who were members
of St. Andrews Church in nearby Destin, Okaloosa County.
They would meet on Sunday evenings at the Episcopal
Fishers of Men Retreat facility for informal Bible study
and fellowship.
The group quickly grew and the need was recognized for
an Episcopal church in south Walton County. A meeting
was held with the Arch-Deacon of the diocese and tentative
plans were implemented. Services were held on alternate
Sundays and were conducted by the Rector and Curate
from St. Andrews.
Christ the King was recognized as a Mission Station
by Bishop Charles Duvall on Easter Sunday, 1986, thus
marking the first new Episcopal Church in Walton County
in 100 years. Fr. Jack McLeester became Priest-in-Charge
and Lance Hughes was appointed Warden by the bishop.
In 1988, using land that had been purchased by St. Andrews
on Highway 98, the new congregation built a doublewide
modular structure to a custom design so that it could
serve as a church and offices. Fondly called “St.
Doublewide” by the parishioners, it served the
parish for 10 years. (The structure is currently being
used by a new Lutheran congregation.) With the retirement
of Fr. McLeester, Fr. Carl Bright became the Rector
in 1990 and remained with the parish until his retirement
in 2003.
A gift of 15 acres of heavily wooded land was given
to the parish, and on September 14, 1998, the new church
was consecrated by Bishop Charles Duvall. It sits at
the end of a long, winding driveway surrounded by a
forest of majestic pine and magnolia trees. Elegant
in its simplicity, the church is a classic board and
battens Carpenter Gothic building, and is often referred
to as “The Church in the Wildwood”.
A covered walkway links the church to the Sandefur Hall
and then continues around to a separate building that
houses classrooms, nursery, and the Hughes Library.
Lush gardens of azaleas and camellias fill the spaces
surrounding the buildings. Standing in the courtyard
known as “Gahagan’s Garth” is a lighted
fountain.
We are proud to have come from “St. Doublewide”
to what is widely considered the most beautiful church
in the area, truly a church in the Wildwood.
Christ the King at Present
MEMBERSHIP
Christ the King has 220 Baptized members
and 162 active confirmed members. We maintain communication,
however, with approximately 365 parishioners and friends
due to seasonal fluctuation in attendance from vacationers
and winter residents. Sunday attendance averages 140
and we routinely celebrate in excess of 158 Holy Eucharist’s
annually. In a typical year we perform 4 Baptisms, 10
Confirmations, and over 20 other special services. Top
WORSHIP
Christ the King has two services on Sunday
mornings: Rite I at 8:00 and Rite II at 10:30 A.M. Other
special occasions, such as house blessings and wedding
anniversaries are also recognized and celebrated. Ecumenical
services under the auspices of the South Walton Ministerial
Association have become yearly celebrations on Good
Friday and at Thanksgiving. Holy Week services
usually include the Stations of the Cross, foot washings,
and stripping of the altar. Every Wednesday evening
at 5:30 P.M., we celebrate the Eucharist with a Healing
service and discuss the upcoming Sunday Bible readings.
Other special occasions, such as house
blessings and wedding anniversaries are also recognized
and celebrated. Top
MUSIC
Music and congregational singing play
a vital role at the 10:30 service. Traditional selections
with occasional renewal music are sung during the service.
We are fortunate to have a very talented organist/ choir
director who organizes and leads ecumenical seasonal
cantatas and concerts with members from about 12 surrounding
area churches with each member paying for their own
music and the proceeds from each concert going to a
community outreach program of their choice. Christ the
King also offers the church for locally sponsored philharmonic
concerts and other solo instrumental performances.
Top
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
The Treble Clef’s Youth Choir is currently on break; but, are continually seeking new members. We have an active Acolyte program serving God, at the 10:30 Sunday Service Throughout the year, many other activities are
provided for the youth including EYC (Episcopal Youth Community), the Annual Easter Egg
hunt and the Trunk-or-Treat celebration, just
to name a few. Our growing youth population is exciting
and a joy. Top
SERVICE GUILDS
Organizations such as the Altar Guild
and Flower Guild of St. Theresa offer members the opportunity
to serve and participate in the church community. Currently
we have an active acolyte ministry. Top
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Christian Education for adults, children, and teens (Rite-13) begin at 9:15 A.M. on Sundays, between services.
Children’s Church is held from 10:30 to about 11:00
each Sunday in conjunction with the regular 10:30 service.
Women conduct their Bible Study class on Monday mornings
at 11:00 A.M., followed by Noon Day prayer. Men’s
group meets for breakfast and Bible Study on Friday
mornings. Mom's Bible Study Class meets Wednesday's at 10:00 A.M. The Daughters of the King Intercessory Prayer
group meets at 4:30 P.M. on Wednesday afternoon. Top
OUTREACH
Christ the King has always
opened the doors of its facilities to outside groups
for regular meetings, social and music events. We are
involved in our community through a number of outreach
projects, and 23% of our total operating income is given
to outreach programs such as Caring & Sharing of South Walton, Children in Crisis, Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center, and Hannah's Helpers.
COOPER’S KITCHEN
–
CHRIST THE KING MONTESSORI PRE-SCHOOL
- The Treehouse,
a Montessori environment at Christ the King Episcopal
Church. Our mission is to create an environment where
families and educators come together to support children
in reaching their highest potential in order to positively
impact the community. Visit the 'Treehouse'
website or contact Maureen
Paine for more information. Top
About the Area
Santa Rosa Beach, in the South of Walton
County, Florida, is the home of Christ the King Episcopal
Church. Santa Rosa Beach is one of the famous “Beaches
of South Walton” that has been repeatedly listed
as being among the best beaches in America. The unique
soft white sand beaches that extend into the Gulf cause
the water to be a beautiful emerald color for several
hundred feet until the depth of the water increases
and the water becomes a deep blue. The Gulf coast from
Pensacola to Panama City Beach is called “The
Emerald Coast.”
The church is located midway between
the Gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay.
The Bay is 30 miles long and 3 miles wide and is fed
from a watershed of inland rivers and the Gulf at high
tide. Access to the Gulf from the bay is possible at
East Pass in Destin, 15 miles from the church. A constant
stream of boats cruises between the bay and gulf because
Choctawhatchee Bay is part of the Gulf Intercoastal
Waterway that extends from Brownsville, Texas to Boston,
Mass.
There are unique features to our land and seascape.
First, an oddity in the Gulf, called the 100 fathom
curve, brings deep water closer to shore than any place
in Florida and has resulted in the largest charter fishing
fleet in the state with record breaking catches of various
billfish and grouper among the many species landed every
year. Second, the Coastal Dune lakes that dot the coastline
are so rare they are found only in Walton County and
in remote portions of Africa.
Our area boasts an ideal climate of chilly winters (30’s-50’s);
mild and beautiful springs and autumns (40’s-70’s);
and quite hot summers (80’s-high 90’s).
The majority of our days in each season see clear blue
skies and different flowering varieties of desert and
forest flora.
The Emerald Coast has become a major tourist destination
with spring and summer being the primary seasons. Also,
an increasing number of visitors come to our area for
the winter, and many attend our church for several months
each year.
South Walton is an interesting mix of dense coastal
development and rural forested areas. Census figures
show a year round population of about 35,000; but the
influx of more than 100,000 tourists has resulted in
an array of fine restaurants, varied shopping opportunities,
and a budding market for the visual arts. The result
is a low key, small town atmosphere that is mingled
with areas of cosmopolitan flair.
Okaloosa-Walton Community College in nearby Niceville
boasts a fine arts program with emphasis on the visual
and performing arts. A modern performing arts center
hosts a large 1700 seat concert hall, where a steady
stream of varied entertainment opportunities are offered,
from the college supported symphony orchestra to musical
theater and full dramatic stage productions by touring
professionals and local performers.
The Walton County School District has 15 schools. Near
the church are a kindergarten center, an elementary
school, two middle schools and one high school. The
nearby Okaloosa-Walton Community College has just been
designated a four year college and will offer programs
leading to a Bachelor's degree as well as the current
Associate degree programs. A satellite campus is
to be constructed during the next two years within three
miles of our church. Top
Additional information may be
found at the following sites:
Welcome
to Christ the King Episcopal Church. I want to personally
thank you for visiting our website and invite you to become
an intimate part of the mission and ministry of this unique
parish. Should you have any questions about Christ the
King in particular or the Episcopal Church in general
please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to
meeting you at one of our celebrations of the Holy Eucharist
or, perhaps in a less formal way, at your convenience.
Top